Taking a "me" date

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Do you have something you want to do, but no one wants to do it with you? We all have those moments and think, "Well I guess I won't do it then. Right?" Wrong. You should never be afraid to do something alone. Turn a negative into a positive by having a "me" date. Not sure how to do it? Here's my story and tips on having a date with yourself.

A few weeks ago I was out of town with the boyfriend and he had some meetings to attend without me. I found out the city had a super mega huge mall that had every single store I have been wanting to go to but I didn't have them local to me. So I could do 1 of 2 things. I could check out of the hotel and go with the boyfriend to his meetings and sit and be bored for hours OR I could check my sassy self out of the hotel and head on over the that fab mall. Which option did I choose? The mall obviously! What would you pick?

The mall was pretty quiet as it was the middle of the week. First plan of action: Find the map. As I went on looking for the map I passed a few of the stores I had been wanting to visit, so I stopped in. I had no schedule to follow. It was just me and the mall. Because the mall was slow, employees had more time to spend with me. I stopped into Teavana first to get some tea. I had a wonderful chat with the lady at the counter. She was able to explain everything I needed to know because I asked. I spent a good half hour with her and left a very happy customer. Tip: Go to stores/places you really have interest in. This makes it more comfortable to talk to people.

Next I sat down and enjoyed my tea. Once I finished my tea I browsed a few stores. I took my time which nice because there was no one to bug me about wanting to go somewhere else. I then laid my eyes on Lush. One of my favorite places to venture into. Because I had time, and always wanted to sample more of their products, I was able to sit down and have a skin care demo. This was amazing. I got my hands all scrubbed and massaged. I tried lotions and powders galore. Had I been with someone else, I probably wouldn't have stopped for all of that. Tip: Sit in an open area and people watch. This makes for an interesting activity and can help make you feel more comfortable.

After Lush, I got hungry. It was lunch time at this point. This is where it gets nerve racking. Dining alone. There were so many great restaurant options in this mall that I couldn't pass one up for a quick McDonalds lunch or Taco Bell. I wanted to sit down and enjoy a nice adult lunch. And so I did. The waitress was very friendly and even made sure to check in on me often in case I was in need of anything. She thought it was so cool I was dining alone. She brought me a free dessert. It was really sweet of her. I never felt weird. It was a pleasant experience. Tip: Bring a book to read. When you are waiting for your food to come, this will come in handy to help pass the time.

After lunch I got word that the boyfriend would be along to pick me up within an hour. That was perfect because in front of my was Sephora. I could spend hours in there if someone let me. Today I really did have an hour I COULD spend in there because I wanted to. I went in like a kid in a candy store and I played. Seriously, I tested all kinds of products. No one was pestering me to move on to the next store. It was an interactive experience if you will. Tip: Go to places that you can interact somehow. It really makes the alone thing seem minor. If something is occupying you, who cares!

The boyfriend picked me up, but not before taking me to the Cheesecake Factory for some yummy cheesecake slices to take home. All in all I had a great experience on my "me date". I visited places I wanted to see and got things I wanted to buy. I never felt rushed or out of place. I have come to enjoy these days. You get so much done and get to do the things you want to do without someone slowing you down.

Have you ever taken a "me date"? How was it? Share below!

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This is great! I think spending time alone is so important, especially for people who've always been in a relationship. I've done a few different things, like dining alone, and even going to the art museum solo this past summer and it's been a good experience. It's always a little uncomfortable at first and then you settle in and enjoy yourself and it doesn't matter that there's no one with you. I do have to admit, now that my sisters are inaccessible, shopping has become more of a chore than the fun activity it once was. But dining alone is ok. It can even be fun if you sit at the bar - people are much more likely to strike up conversations over there and bartenders are usually pretty friendly.

It is pretty great the things you can accomplish if you just try. I have a lot of friends who won't do anything alone and they miss out on SO much! Dining alone was pretty great and I have been thinking about going to a museum alone soon!

Trish I absolutely love this. So I have been single almost a year now. As I was coming out of my relationship, every single person I know is getting married and having babies. Therefore I have now had to have a lot of "me" dates and I was worried I was the only one. Sometimes I would feel like such a loser. My favorite "me dates" are hiking and going to the movies. I am not afraid to do it anymore because I can't live my life waiting for other people you know? Great idea for the mall, I will try that soon.

Thank you Liz for sharing that with me! You are not alone girl! I really do enjoy time by myself and it is something I think we all need to achieve before being in a committed relationship. You need to love yourself before you can love another :) You will love the mall! It's so much fun!

Hey! I'm Trish!

Welcome to The Trish List; fondly referred to as the zen between the chaos. Here you will find me writing about navigating life with a tiny human while trying to stay connected to the me I was before motherhood. Things can get a little chaotic, so sit back and enjoy the ride. I promise to offer the zen side of life too! Being a certified yoga teacher, I do love to focus on self care mixed into daily lifestyle.